"Alright," the lawyer said, placing two folders on the table, "let's get this over with." The casualness of the man's tone only deepened the churning feeling in Elena's gut. Beside her, Liam, her older brother, seemed to be holding his breath. The silence was deafening, the ticking clock on the wall a relentless reminder of their parents' absence.
She picked at the corner of the table, her knuckles white. This was the moment.
"Elena, you inherit your mother's extensive library, as well as the funds to maintain it." The lawyer paused, his gaze drifting to Liam.
A wave of relief washed over Elena, followed by a surge of anxiety. She wasn't ready to have that responsibility. The books were her mother's everything, she wasn't sure she could live up to that legacy.
"Liam, you inherit all of your father's business holdings, as well as a substantial trust fund." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken expectations. Liam's face remained impassive, but his jaw tightened.
"But I... I wanted the library." The words tumbled out, a raw admission of unspoken longing.
Elena flinched at the sound of her brother's voice, a wave of sickness threatening to overwhelm her. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. She suddenly felt deeply, terribly alone.